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#241
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we are sitting ducks
On Jun 1, 12:12 am, "Amy Blankenship"
wrote: "Pat" wrote in message ups.com... On May 31, 5:10 pm, "Amy Blankenship" wrote: "Dane Buson" wrote in message ... In rec.bicycles.misc Amy Blankenship wrote: "Dane Buson" wrote in message In rec.bicycles.misc Bolwerk wrote: It'd be great, but it's not really practical, sadly. The worst part is that the incompetents tend to live in places most dependent on the automobile. In every other 1st world nation it is much much more expensive and difficult to get a license. If someone can't drive a vehicle safely, they shouldn't be driving. I have very little sympathy for someone being dependent on an automobile and not driving it responsibly. In every other first world nation, it is feasible to live without owning a car. How much of that is cause and how much of that is effect? I rather think that if people find it harder to have a license, we'll see more people arranging their lives to live without cars. I doubt it. We'd have to start changing the way we build things. I would have to plant a much bigger garden and be way more serious about it than I am if I wanted to survive without a car. Many people I know would probably starve if they did not have one. Don't sweat it. All of the anti-car and ride-a-bike people live in cities where it might be feasible to like without a car. They are very ego-centric and forget that people live in rural areas. Live without a car? Not likely. It's 20 miles to the nearest Walmart. Oops, did I say Walmart. Sorry. Here, we have two small grocery stores that are on the Reservation, but no clothing stores or anything like that. Plus no public transporation except 1 inter-city bus per day and the Nation's bus service for the Elders. Someday they'll recognize that people still live in the boonies. There are plenty of urban and suburban areas where it is also not safe to ride a bike.- Exactly. Where is feasible is dangerous, and where is unfeasable, well it's just unfeasable. You are F*** either way.l |
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#242
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What American Cities are Missing: Bikes by the Thousands
On Jun 1, 1:53 am, wrote:
In article .net, says... Pedicabs are being discouraged and banned because those who do that kind of work basically wear themselves out in about 5 years. Not true of any of the pedicab operators I've known, but for the sake of argument, we can pretend they're all statistical outliers. It is highly abusive. It's easier on the body than drywall installation, ditch digging, or meat packing, judging by disability rates. It's regrettable that our friend George still sees pedicabs as something backward. Something fit for Roman times perhaps... http://www.flickr.com/photos/70626467@N00/249437991/ |
#243
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we are sitting ducks
On Jun 1, 9:21 am, "george conklin" wrote:
"Bill" wrote in message . net... Clark F Morris wrote: On Thu, 31 May 2007 13:58:13 -0500, "Amy Blankenship" wrote: "Dane Buson" wrote in message ... In rec.bicycles.misc Bolwerk wrote: Dane Buson wrote: Personally, I'd like it if it required a little more than fogging a mirror and $25 to obtain and keep a license. I think if most drivers ponder it for a moment, they might agree with me. Wouldn't it be nice if the least capable of the drivers simply weren't on the road? It'd be great, but it's not really practical, sadly. The worst part is that the incompetents tend to live in places most dependent on the automobile. In every other 1st world nation it is much much more expensive and difficult to get a license. If someone can't drive a vehicle safely, they shouldn't be driving. I have very little sympathy for someone being dependent on an automobile and not driving it responsibly. In every other first world nation, it is feasible to live without owning a car. Probably not in the more remote rural areas and probably not in new sprawled suburban areas. I hate the cross posting but agree on the nature of rural living. My 2 LBS even are over 6 miles through hairy traffic and I moved to a small town to get away from the traffic. As for shopping, it can't be done on a bike unless the items are very small and local. This is due to the American way of sprawl, and I can't fix it by becoming a target. Cities have always "sprawled" Even Queen Elizabeth I was against London growing. The term itself shows a strong anti-urban bias.- Not nearly on the scale America has sprawled. Our sprawl necessitates the automobile, or better yet, the SUV. The American dream... http://www.civicdesigncenter.org/images/Suburbia.jpg I hope the wake up time is coming soon. |
#244
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we are sitting ducks
On Jun 1, 11:32 am, Pat wrote:
On Jun 1, 8:41 am, Bill wrote: Clark F Morris wrote: On Thu, 31 May 2007 13:58:13 -0500, "Amy Blankenship" wrote: "Dane Buson" wrote in message ... In rec.bicycles.misc Bolwerk wrote: Dane Buson wrote: Personally, I'd like it if it required a little more than fogging a mirror and $25 to obtain and keep a license. I think if most drivers ponder it for a moment, they might agree with me. Wouldn't it be nice if the least capable of the drivers simply weren't on the road? It'd be great, but it's not really practical, sadly. The worst part is that the incompetents tend to live in places most dependent on the automobile. In every other 1st world nation it is much much more expensive and difficult to get a license. If someone can't drive a vehicle safely, they shouldn't be driving. I have very little sympathy for someone being dependent on an automobile and not driving it responsibly. In every other first world nation, it is feasible to live without owning a car. Probably not in the more remote rural areas and probably not in new sprawled suburban areas. I hate the cross posting but agree on the nature of rural living. My 2 LBS even are over 6 miles through hairy traffic and I moved to a small town to get away from the traffic. As for shopping, it can't be done on a bike unless the items are very small and local. This is due to the American way of sprawl, and I can't fix it by becoming a target. The bridges I have to cross have to be done one the sidewalk on one (Freeway and 65 MPH) and the other is not big enough to haul even a small bicycle trailer. When I need to buy a new A/C unit or refrigerator (big appliance) good luck with a bike. Home improvement supplies are another big item. Electronics for my computer involves a 45 mile trip each way to Sacramento or pay twice as much for a very limited selection. We don't all live in big cities and don't want to be forced into it. Some of us actually have to go to business meetings and those are beyond bicycle range. The other factor is how are the suits going to take someone serious when they show up on a bicycle? I like to ride but in my business I have to put on a professional face. That's the way life works unless you are a city office drone. Sorry, but a reality check is needed by some of the bike fanatics. I try to drive my most economical car (35 MPG) on these trips but won't spend more than it is worth to buy a hybrid (yet, at least). Bill (realistic) Baka One weekend next month I have to go about 30 miles north west of here to photograph a wedding. The next day I need to leave first thing to drive about 200 miles to the east to get the kids to a lacrosse game. After the game, I'll probably keep going another 150 miles to go to my mother's house for a few days. That ain't going to happen on a bicycle. I won't even happen on my motorcycle.- Most people do drive under 5 miles, and that can happen on a bike. |
#245
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What American Cities are Missing: Bikes by the Thousands
george conklin wrote:
"Bolwerk" wrote in message ... George Conklin wrote: "Bolwerk" wrote in message ... Amy Blankenship wrote: "George Conklin" wrote in message link.net... Pushing the labor laws back to those of the third world is not a viable goal. Such work is abusive, and if you pull the pedicab yourself, then you are abusing yourself. I guess any work that involves physical exertion is "abusive." Like, say, construction, carpentry...um, farming? George believes that everyone in the US should be free... to do things George approves of. I'm starting to wonder if George knows what George approves of. Pushing third world abuses into the USA is no victory for anyone but this fool. You have a funny notion of what "third world abuse" is. I would think it amounts more to something like working your fingers raw in a sweat shop for 17 hours a day, seven days a week. I don't know for sure, but if I was to venture a guess, I'd say pedicab operation is probably better pay than burger flipping, and healthier. Except it is not healthy. It is abusive of the body. It wears out the body in about 5 years. That is why pedicabs are being banned by those who know what is going on in nations where they have them. Today, George made up a new reason to hate pedicabs: they wear out the body! Now, there doesn't appear to be any evidence to support that, but you know, everything George says is true! Like, yeah, I'm sure they're much worse for the body (and other bodies around them) than the pollutants that come out of your exhaust pipe. Oh, wait, is George advocating banning cars now? |
#246
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we are sitting ducks
"Dane Buson" wrote in message ... In rec.bicycles.misc Amy Blankenship wrote: "Dane Buson" wrote in message ... In rec.bicycles.misc Amy Blankenship wrote: "Dane Buson" wrote in message In rec.bicycles.misc Bolwerk wrote: It'd be great, but it's not really practical, sadly. The worst part is that the incompetents tend to live in places most dependent on the automobile. In every other 1st world nation it is much much more expensive and difficult to get a license. If someone can't drive a vehicle safely, they shouldn't be driving. I have very little sympathy for someone being dependent on an automobile and not driving it responsibly. In every other first world nation, it is feasible to live without owning a car. How much of that is cause and how much of that is effect? I rather think that if people find it harder to have a license, we'll see more people arranging their lives to live without cars. I doubt it. We'd have to start changing the way we build things. I would have to plant a much bigger garden and be way more serious about it than I am if I wanted to survive without a car. Many people I know would probably starve if they did not have one. How did we go from "Let's get rid of the worst drivers and make it a *little* more difficult to get a license" to "zOMG people are going to STARVE to death!1!!one!" ? Would that be a Red Herring or a Strawman? I didn't say people are going to starve. But there would be little political support for making it more difficult to get a driver's license, because people know that it simply isn't practical in most places not to be able to drive. Therefore, making getting a license harder amounts to cruel and unusual punishment for people who have not done anything wrong--their only crime is that they have not gotten their license yet. Which is precisely why people are not going to starve, unless something goes wrong with our ability to distribute fuel or the highway system. -Amy |
#247
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we are sitting ducks
"Bill" wrote in message . net... Pat wrote: On Jun 1, 8:41 am, Bill wrote: I hate the cross posting but agree on the nature of rural living. My 2 LBS even are over 6 miles through hairy traffic and I moved to a small town to get away from the traffic. As for shopping, it can't be done on a bike unless the items are very small and local. This is due to the American way of sprawl, and I can't fix it by becoming a target. The bridges I have to cross have to be done one the sidewalk on one (Freeway and 65 MPH) and the other is not big enough to haul even a small bicycle trailer. When I need to buy a new A/C unit or refrigerator (big appliance) good luck with a bike. Home improvement supplies are another big item. Electronics for my computer involves a 45 mile trip each way to Sacramento or pay twice as much for a very limited selection. We don't all live in big cities and don't want to be forced into it. Some of us actually have to go to business meetings and those are beyond bicycle range. The other factor is how are the suits going to take someone serious when they show up on a bicycle? I like to ride but in my business I have to put on a professional face. That's the way life works unless you are a city office drone. Sorry, but a reality check is needed by some of the bike fanatics. I try to drive my most economical car (35 MPG) on these trips but won't spend more than it is worth to buy a hybrid (yet, at least). Bill (realistic) Baka One weekend next month I have to go about 30 miles north west of here to photograph a wedding. The next day I need to leave first thing to drive about 200 miles to the east to get the kids to a lacrosse game. After the game, I'll probably keep going another 150 miles to go to my mother's house for a few days. That ain't going to happen on a bicycle. I won't even happen on my motorcycle. Proving that any sane person with a family needs a car at least some of the time. Because we fail to arrange our space in such a way that it can be avoided. |
#248
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we are sitting ducks
On Jun 1, 2:05 pm, donquijote1954 wrote:
On May 31, 11:27 pm, "Joe the Aroma" wrote: "Amy Blankenship" wrote in message news:2YE7i.9346$dy1.323@bigfe9... In every other first world nation, it is feasible to live without owning a car. It's feasible here too, it just makes you uncool. Personally, I love my car. Uncool and unsustainable, if you have to go out of the main routes. It's OK though for when you retire and you have all the time in the world. Oh it's unsustainable is it? Well, that would mean it cannot be sustained (ala the old economist quote). When that occurs I will give it up. |
#249
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we are sitting ducks
"Clark F Morris" wrote in message ... On Fri, 1 Jun 2007 13:40:06 -0500, "Amy Blankenship" wrote: "Bill" wrote in message y.net... Pat wrote: On Jun 1, 8:41 am, Bill wrote: I hate the cross posting but agree on the nature of rural living. My 2 LBS even are over 6 miles through hairy traffic and I moved to a small town to get away from the traffic. As for shopping, it can't be done on a bike unless the items are very small and local. This is due to the American way of sprawl, and I can't fix it by becoming a target. The bridges I have to cross have to be done one the sidewalk on one (Freeway and 65 MPH) and the other is not big enough to haul even a small bicycle trailer. When I need to buy a new A/C unit or refrigerator (big appliance) good luck with a bike. Home improvement supplies are another big item. Electronics for my computer involves a 45 mile trip each way to Sacramento or pay twice as much for a very limited selection. We don't all live in big cities and don't want to be forced into it. Some of us actually have to go to business meetings and those are beyond bicycle range. The other factor is how are the suits going to take someone serious when they show up on a bicycle? I like to ride but in my business I have to put on a professional face. That's the way life works unless you are a city office drone. Sorry, but a reality check is needed by some of the bike fanatics. I try to drive my most economical car (35 MPG) on these trips but won't spend more than it is worth to buy a hybrid (yet, at least). Bill (realistic) Baka One weekend next month I have to go about 30 miles north west of here to photograph a wedding. The next day I need to leave first thing to drive about 200 miles to the east to get the kids to a lacrosse game. After the game, I'll probably keep going another 150 miles to go to my mother's house for a few days. That ain't going to happen on a bicycle. I won't even happen on my motorcycle. Proving that any sane person with a family needs a car at least some of the time. Because we fail to arrange our space in such a way that it can be avoided. Given where Pat says he lives (and in fact where I live in rural Nova Scotia), it is hard to do without a car. It would still be awkward and limiting if I lived in the nearest town where I would be on the every other hour transit line and have one bus a day to Halifax. I would assume that this is true of most rural areas in North America and Europe. But even in relatively urban areas we fail to arrange our space where living without a car would be feasible (in most cases...there are some exceptions). |
#250
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we are sitting ducks
On Fri, 1 Jun 2007 13:40:06 -0500, "Amy Blankenship"
wrote: "Bill" wrote in message .net... Pat wrote: On Jun 1, 8:41 am, Bill wrote: I hate the cross posting but agree on the nature of rural living. My 2 LBS even are over 6 miles through hairy traffic and I moved to a small town to get away from the traffic. As for shopping, it can't be done on a bike unless the items are very small and local. This is due to the American way of sprawl, and I can't fix it by becoming a target. The bridges I have to cross have to be done one the sidewalk on one (Freeway and 65 MPH) and the other is not big enough to haul even a small bicycle trailer. When I need to buy a new A/C unit or refrigerator (big appliance) good luck with a bike. Home improvement supplies are another big item. Electronics for my computer involves a 45 mile trip each way to Sacramento or pay twice as much for a very limited selection. We don't all live in big cities and don't want to be forced into it. Some of us actually have to go to business meetings and those are beyond bicycle range. The other factor is how are the suits going to take someone serious when they show up on a bicycle? I like to ride but in my business I have to put on a professional face. That's the way life works unless you are a city office drone. Sorry, but a reality check is needed by some of the bike fanatics. I try to drive my most economical car (35 MPG) on these trips but won't spend more than it is worth to buy a hybrid (yet, at least). Bill (realistic) Baka One weekend next month I have to go about 30 miles north west of here to photograph a wedding. The next day I need to leave first thing to drive about 200 miles to the east to get the kids to a lacrosse game. After the game, I'll probably keep going another 150 miles to go to my mother's house for a few days. That ain't going to happen on a bicycle. I won't even happen on my motorcycle. Proving that any sane person with a family needs a car at least some of the time. Because we fail to arrange our space in such a way that it can be avoided. Given where Pat says he lives (and in fact where I live in rural Nova Scotia), it is hard to do without a car. It would still be awkward and limiting if I lived in the nearest town where I would be on the every other hour transit line and have one bus a day to Halifax. I would assume that this is true of most rural areas in North America and Europe. |
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